MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Under Scuttle Brackets

Making sure where these two brackets go, as their painted, I brought up this old picture while pulling the car apart. I'm curious what the row of holes on the bottom of the brackets are for? There was nothing attached to them when I got the car. Any clues? Matthew? PJ


Paul S Jennings

PJ. Maybe the Abingdon designers had something in mind when they made those holes to the brackets but nothing gets attached to those holes.

Frank


Frank Cronin

Thanks Frank. Makes you wonder though why they were made that way. Wonder if these brackets were used in another car also? PJ
Paul S Jennings

possibly to hang a voltage converter for a radio, Boy were they heavy even for our radios. The T Types were used extensively by our Police forces in the UK so may have needed it.
Dave Williams who contributes to this board has an ex police TF and some history.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

I would agree with radio equipment. I would be very interested to see any history on Dave Williams car.

Matthew.
M Magilton

Ya know I've had a few of these kicking around the shop for some time now and never knew what they were for. Now I know and not a TD.
Vincent Piņa

Interesting image to see where the head light dipper switch is mounted on a LH drive TF.
G Evans

Hi Matthew/Everyone

Yes my TF (TKL 707) was originally a police car with the Kent Constabulary. I only discovered this fairly recently when I registered with the "T" Register. I then found out more info from the book "MGs on
Patrol". I have owned the car from 1964 and I had always wondered what the letters/numbers (KA54) written in white paint on the left hand side of the dashboard were. I thought they were a catalogue number put on by a garage. But apparently they were the call sign for the car during its time as a police car. Re the holes in the brackets: all I can say is that they are present on my brackets as well. Whether they were used for supporting radio equipment during its time as a police car I can't tell. They weren't supporting anything when I took the car part.

I did have a large hole in side screen box with a large circular bracket. I suspect this was for cables to either radio equipment or a auxiliary power source.

Best wishes

Dave


D Williams

Thank you Dave. Do you know how many TF's were used as Police cars? Was there a siren or any other exterior mods?

Cheers,
Matthew.
M Magilton

Hi Matthew,

IN the back of the book "Mgs on Patrol" there is a list of all MGs used as police cars in the UK including TF's. According to this list there were 7 1250's with the Lancashire Constabulary and 4 with the Kent. Lancashire also had 9 1500's. All were black (as you would expect!) with the Kent cars having red or green upholstery.

In the book there is a picture of a TF (SKR 647) with a siren and a large bell on the front. There is also a picture of my car with the large bell on the front and almost certainly a siren (the siren is not that clear in the photo). From these pictures and trying to remember what mine was like in 1964 (!!) there were no other external mods that are obvious. There was no badge bar or spots on the front; Steel wheels rather than wire wheels.

All the best

Dave
D Williams

Thank you Dave for the excellent information! I imagine it would not have been 'that' hard to outrun a TF, even in 1954 with the right car, so I suppose the car was more for patrolling on minor roads and responding to calls? Do you have any theories behind the purpose of purchase and subsequent use of TF's in the Constabulary?

Cheers,
Matthew.
M Magilton

Someone here in the States has a Black & White police TD or TC restored. I only ever saw it once, maybe Gatlinburg at MG 2006, not sure. I thought I had a couple pics of it somewhere, hard copy shot with my old 35 mil. PJ
Paul S Jennings

I was aware of MG's being used as police cars over the years but I don't recall ever hearing of a TF being used for that purpose. I'd love to see a photo of one.


MG LaVerne

Hi Matthew,


Have some further information: I believe I am mistaken, it is not a siren mounted in the front but a loudspeaker. The bell is correct and it was chrome plated.

Also from the "MGs on Patrol" the radio was mounted behind the seats. It is also claimed that the cars would have done 90,000 miles when they were sold but would have been well maintained and almost completely rebuilt whilst in service. I should emphasise I did not know she had been a police car when I bought her in 1964. Would I have changed my mind if I had known? I don't think so she was and is a lovely car and I can't complain, she has given me excellent service.

My theories on why the TF was used as police car: the cars looked nice, probably a bit of a head turner and was probably quite nippy in her day especially if the police tuned the engine up. But how two burley policemen could sit comfortably in the two front seats I do not know. Perhaps they made policemen smaller in those days!

Cheers

Dave
D Williams

I've seen photos of MGA's and MGB's used in law service and this 1933 version.


MG LaVerne

Good looking buncgh of ladies....

and the PS'c arn't too bad either



Rod Jones

Rod,
Those MGA's were Bristol registered, did you notice the torpedo sidelights?.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Hi Everyone,

Please find attached a photo of my TF as a police car. The chrome bell can be seen at the front.

Cheers

Dave


D Williams

Dave,

Nice! How come this is a LHD?

Jasper
JL Nederhoed TD3966

Dave, Great pic. Learned something about these MG's I'd never of thought especially it being a two seater police sports car.

Your pic deserves to be in Chris Couper's Original MG website.

Great post.

Frank
Frank Cronin

All TF's have these holes, no idea why.
Rod Brayshaw

Dave: If you send me a higher res picture of your TF I will post it here:

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/mgtf_gallery.htm

Just send me some details you would like included for a description. If you have more period photos those are acceptable too.
Christopher Couper

Hi Jasper,

Well spotted, I hadn't realised but I have flipped the photo horizontally. My car is a RHD.

Cheers

Dave
D Williams

Hi Ray,

Re. picture of police MGAs, sorry but the (Y)TC registration is Lancashire not Bristol, according to an old AA member's handbook I have. I was brought up in Bristol and didn't recognise the registration number as being from there!

Cheers,

John
J C Mitchell

Hi John.
Sorry about that, Lancashire until 1974 then Bristol.
We could easily outrun those MGA's on our motorbikes on our way to Blackpool.
I should have remembered TA to TF were Lancs numbers as my TF registration is TTD332, sold from Morecambe
Ray
Ray Lee

Dave,

With help of the internet, problem solved...

This BBS learns me something new every day...!

Jasper




JL Nederhoed TD3966

Hi Christopher,
Apologies for delay in getting back to you. Unfortunately the photo I posted is the best resolution I have. It was taken from "MGs on Patrol" Magna Press.

Best wishes

Dave
D Williams

This thread was discussed between 29/11/2014 and 04/12/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.